Gambler rejects ex-husband’s claim for chunk of $1m shoe collection

Professional poker player Beth Shak is being sued by her former husband for £225,000 of her designer shoes.

Put the boot in: Beth Shak and part of her 1,200-strong collection (Picture: Barcroft)

Beth Shak allegedly kept the 1,200-strong collection a secret from Daniel Shak when they lived together.

Ms Shak, 42, has vowed to fight the case, saying her former partner’s case for 35 per cent of her footwear is harassment.

Her former husband, a hedge-fund manager, says she hid the value of the shoes in their divorce settlement.Ms Shak said: ‘We’re not supposed to talk about the court hearing, so I don’t know how the story got out.

‘I’m going to vehemently defend myself. I feel this is harassment.’

Mr Shak claims his ex-wife concealed her £650,000 shoe collection in a ‘secret room’ at their £4.7million New York flat.

‘I’m really shaking my head over this whole thing,’ Ms Shak said. ‘He is saying that he didn’t even know that the closet in our master bedroom existed.’

Ms Shak, who split from her husband in 2009, has some pairs worth up to £2,500.

‘When I have poker winnings, the first thing I do is treat myself to shoes,’ the mother of three said.